Laundry machine



May 30, 1933.v .1. B. KIRBY LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed May 14 1927 5Sheets-Sheet l James B. IGrbg A ttornegs May 30, 1933. J, |51,l KlRBYfl,9l1,903

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed May 14, 1927 :s sheets-sheet 5 At borne 59Patented May .30, 1933 LAUNDRY MACHINE Application led Hay 14,

This invention relates to laundry machines and has for its objects theprovision of a new, improved, and simplified machine for performing thefunctions of washing and of extracting in a single container, necessityof handling the clothes in any way between the commencement andcompletion of the operation. Another object of the invention is theprovision of a machine which combines the advantages of the osc-illatingdasher for washing and the centrifugal separator for extracting. Otherobjects of the invention relate to means for removing the scum and soaplees prior to the extracting operation; the

tion of grit and Water from the fabrics; the new, improved andsimplified operating mechanism; the provision of new and simplifiedmeans for raising and lowering and connecting and disconnecting therotating tub; the provision of an improved dasher which shall facilitatethe rotating and distributing movements of the clothing; the provisionof a dasher so related to its tub as to reduce the danger of clothing orother articles from becoming caught therebeneath and to increase theease of discharging the liquid contents of the tub; the provision of newand improved means for lubricating the various parts; while furtherobjects and ad vantages of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds.

In the drawings accompanying and formof this application I have shown anwashing posection being indicated by 1-,1 in Fig. 3; Fig. 2 illustratesthe same machine with parts occupying the position assumed during lineof section being that indicated at 2-2 of F ig, 3; Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view corresponding to the line 3 3 of-Fig. 1; Fig.4 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding to the line 4 4 of Fig.3; Fig. 5 is a development of the lower end of the vertical shaft;

without the d the extracting operation the 1927. Serial No. 191,483.

and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the upper end of said shaft.

Describing by reference characters the particular machine illustrated inthe present plate 4, a bottom plate 5 and a plurality of vertical posts6, 7, 8, Secured to the top of the plate 1 is the casing in which t ewashing mechanism is located and the washing process performed. Thiscasing in its present form comprises a substantially cylindrical uprightsheet metal wall 10 seamed at its lower end to a circular bottom plate11 and having intermediate its height an outwardly embossed hollowenlargement 12 proucing an inwardly facing circumferential recess.Located in the bottom part of this cylinder is a sheet metal liningmember comprising a cylindrical wall 13 here shown as integral with abottom 14 which overlies the height of the enlargement 12, and adjacentto the' bottom of said enlargement the wall 13 is clrcumferentiallyenlarged as illustrated,

at 16, to fit tightly against the wall 10 to wh1ch it is soldered inleak-proof relation,

can be used and the two, if used together can be made separately.

The top late 4 of the mechanism frame is formed wit a central uprighthollow socket 24 in which is received the upright cylindrical sleeve 25,the bottom of the tub being suitably apertured therefor, and slidablyand rotatably mounted in this sleeve is the vertical e space outsidethe.

shaft 26 havmg its lower end reduced as shown at '27 to enter a socket28 formed in the plate 5 and there rest-ing upon a thrust bearing 29.Tightly secured to said shaft above said reduced portion is a spiralpinion and secured above said pinion is the hallbearing 31 embraced by acup member 32 to whose sides is pivoted the bifurcated end of the lever33. T he other end of said lever is articulated at 34 to the free end ofan arm 35 pivoted at 36 about a bracket 4a carried by the plate 4. Theupper end of the 4post 6 is squared as shown at G in Figs. 2 and 3 so asto afford room for bearings, and in the same is pivoted a horizontalrock shaft 37, having secured to one end the pedal lever 38 and to theother 'end the lifting lever 39 whose free end carries a roller 40`running along a suitably shaped track 41 on the lever 33. By pressingthis pedal from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown inFig. 2, the lever 33 is moved from lower to upper position and with itthe shaft 26. In order to hold the parts in elevated position I haveshown a trigger lever 42 pivoted to the pedal lever at 43 and having oneend formed to engage with a suitable pin 44 carried by the post 6a. Thetrigger is located so as to be actuated by the toe of the same foot withwhich the pedal is operated.

The upper end of the shaft 26 has a plurality of angularly spacedvertical grooves 45 cut therein as illustrated in Fig. 6, after which aportion of the teeth so produced are removed by turning down the shaftas shown at 46 thereby forming two luted portions 47 and 48 constitutinga kind of head and shoulder respectively, separated by the neck 46.Loosely surrounding the sleeve 25 is another sleeve 50 having at itsupper end an inwardly projecting annular flange 51 which, when the shaft26 is depressed as illustrated in Fig. 1, rests on the upper end of thesleeve 25. The interior of the passageway through this flange is groovedto match the teeth on the head 47, while the distance between the thrustbearing 29 and neck 46 is so chosen that when the shaft is in loweredposition as shown in Fig. 1 said flange shall register with said neck,the head 47 projecting thereabove and the shoulder 48 being withdrawntherebelow. i

To the lower end of the sleeve 50 is secured the tub or container inwhich the clothing is washed and centrifuged. This tub or container ispreferably made of two sheet metal members seamed togethercircumferentially at 52. The outer or rim member consists merely of avertical perforated'portionr 53- merglng w1th an inwardly tapered part54' terminating in a roll rim 55. The other member consists of acircular bottom part 56 tightly secured to the sleeve 50 and surroundedby 'an upstanding annular bead 57 having an abrupt inner face 58 and agradually slanting outer face 59. Outside of said bead the bottom of thetub first drops a little way as illustrated at 60 and then swingsupwardly as at 6l to a cylindrical portion 62 which extends to the seam52. This construction-produces an annular trough or channel surroundingthe elevated central portion of the tub, and adapted to catch buttons,sand, nails, pins and other articles sometimes aceidentally found inclothing, and prevent the same from working under the dasher. The bottomof this trough or channel is formed with discharge provisions 63 for thedrainage of liquid therefrom. The portion 62 is also perforated for thecentrifugal discharge of the extracted liquid.

The container is preferably formed with a rounded bottom on any sectiontaken through the axis of rotation of the container, and it is alsoshown herein as having its top part similarly rounded lnwardly. This notonly produces a device which is easy to make, but one which is devoid ofangles in which clothing or sediment can collect, although thesefeatures are susceptible of wide changes.

Located inside the tub is a false bottom comprising a circular portion64 tightly secured to the sleeve at 65 and having a downturned rim 66braced against and soldered to the abrupt wall 58 of the rib 57. Thisfalse bottom has the multiple purpose of bracing the lower part of thetub, lightening the same by constituting a floating chamber, andguarding against the entering of clothing beneath the agitator or dashernow to be described. This agitator or dasher may take any one ofnumerous detail shapes, particu larly as regards its blades, but asregards its body it preferably comprises a hollow cylindrical centralsleeve 68 formed at its upper end with a hollow head 69 which isinternally grooved to intermesh with the teeth on the head 47. I haveshown a hollow sheet metal cap 70 as secured to the end of the shaft 26and slidably overlapping the head 69 to prevent the ingress of water. Atits lower end the sleeve 68 expands to form a Haring circular disk 71terminating in a downturned flange 72 which laps over the vertical wall66 of the false bottom. The disk 71 merges into the sleeve 68 in a longsweep as shown at 73, and the exterior of the device is provided withblades or vancs 74 of any desired conformation.

Journaled in the upper ends of the posts and 7 above the rock shaft 37is the horizbntal driving shaft 78 to which is connected the motor 79and on which is tightly mounted the worin gear 80 and the hub 81 of thefriction clutch 82. Journaled on a horizontal stud 83 carried by the.post 7 beneath the shaft 78 is a worm gear 84 meshing with the worm 80and having a rigid ball 85 projecting from its face. Rotatably sleevedon the post 8 is the hub 86 of a segmental gear 87. Pivoted to said hubon the horizontal axis 88 is the bifurcated end of a crank arm 89 havingat lof ' duce engagement between be spiral-pinion when the-latter islowered as shown in 1 Loosely journaled onv the shaft 78 adjacent to theclutch member 82 is a' sleeve 91 ha tightly secured to one end acompanion clutch member 92 and to the other end a spiral gear 93 adaptedtov mesh with the pinion 30 when the latter is raised to the'positionshown in Fig. 2. Pivoted to the plate 1 upon a vertical axis 94 is aclutching lever 95 which engages said sleeve through the medium of athrust bearing 96, a spring 97 being provided to prothe members 82 and92 of the clutch whenever said lever is released by the turning of thecam 98 carried by the upright rod 99 provided with the control handle100. The direction of slant of the gear teeth 93 is so chosen relativeto the direction of rotation of the shaft 78 as to tend to disengage theclutch members 82-92 against the action of the spring 97 whenever there- Sistance to rotation of the shaft 26 is excessive, as upon startingthe same from rest. Accordingly the load on the motor is determined bythe stili'ness and adjustment of the spring 97 and can never excessive.angle of the pinion 30 and rack 87 are dematerial can be inserted at theopposite side of the gear 93 in order to bring the container rapidly torest whenever the cam 98 is rotated in the appropriate direction.

depends the lower end of the sheet metal housin 106; and for the purposeof distributing 51e oil to different gears I have shown a simple oilpump plane of the rack 87, said rack being rovided with a suitableplunger 108 adapted to enter said cylinder at each oscillation and forceits contents through an oil pipe 109. This pipe delivers into a hollow"basin 110 formed in the upper surface of the plate 4. The bottom ofthis basin is formed above each gear and adjacent to each shaft withsuitable perforations as indicated at 111 to ischarge a continuoussupply of oil thereto. Also a radial oil hole 112 is provided into theinterior of the sleeve 25. To produce the desired flow of oil throughoutthe height of the shaft 26 engaged by the sleeve 25 when the shaft is inits raised position, special provisions are made as illustrated in Figs.2 and 5. To this end the surface of said shaft is provided with twoparallel longitudinal oil grooves 113 and 114 connected at their upperends in any suitable manner but preflocated in the 1 erably'by a slantedve 115 which exends-from the dnwno `on as to tend, wh rection shown by.the arrow in Fig. 5, to draw the oil downwardly. To the lower end of thegroove 113 is joined another groove 116 slanted and to the lower end ofthe groove 114 is joined et another spiral groove 117 of the Same ant asgroove 15. The oil hole 112 must intersect the ve 116 and the groove114. As a result t e continuous rotation of the shaft in the directionshown b the arrow causes the oil entering through t e hole 112 moveupwardly in th hence throug the inclination of the portlons and 117 enrotated in the dithe sleeve at such times to serve the comparativelyslight requirements of the intervening washing periods In case the tubbe made to operate always at one level the oil grooves are arranged tooperate all the time. The pattern of the grooves is of very littleimportance except at the two ends, and espeend nearest the oil hole.This en- In use the gears are supplied with a quantity of oil such as aquart, the valves 19 and 122 are closed, the tub lowered to the positionshown Yin Fig. 1 and supplied with [the articles preferably to submergethe rims 55 and 15. It Will be noted that while those rims here exhibitthe same level they need not always do so. Energizing the motor impartsa brisk oscillation to the dasher which not only creaxial section. Theapertures 63 at the lowest point of the extractor container dischargeall sand and grit, the slanting portion 59 d1rects the clothes past theedge of the ange to be washed, and liquid introduced groove 114 in suchoppositely from the groove 115,

72 and minimizes the tendency to catch. The cone portion 6-1 decreasesthe tendency of clothes to work beneath the dasher and also facilitatesdischarge of the liquid contents of the tuh. The scum and grit aredischarged from the tub by the currents produced by the dasher, and areseparated from the detergent liquid in the quiet zone between the tuband casing.

During the washing operation the toothed collar 51 registers with theneck 46.

The pedal 38 is now depressed, which raises the shaft 26 and inserts theteeth 48 into this collar in driving relation, while the engagement ofthis collar with the bottoms of the grooves which produce these teethcauses the tub to be raised to the position shown in Fig. 2. rI`he head47 also preferably slips through the head 69, thus leaving the dasherundisturbed so as not to produce any gaps in which clothes can findtheir way. At the same time the pinion 30 disengages the rack 87 andeventually engages with the gear 93, which is supposed to be free sincethe clutch 8292 is supposed to be engaged only while the centrifuge isin actual use. The casing is preferably rather small so that the liquidremaining behind after the tub is elevated stands well below the bottomthereof as shown in Fig. 2.

The handle 100 is now turned to release the lever 95 to the action ofthe spring 97 which causes such an acceleration of the tub as the motorcan bear. The dasher is not removed but rotates with the tub andclothes, the blades producing such an air current as to assist thedrying effect if long continued. If desired to save the extracted liquidthe valve 19 can be closed so that the gutter will overflow back intothe casing. It will be noted that the rim of this gutter is shown asabove the bottom of the tub but if it be below the extractingperforations it will catch the eiiluent therefrom. The clothes can alsobe rinsed by causing a hose to discharge into the tub during therotation thereof, all the rinse water passing into the annular gutterand none into the casing so long as the rotation be maintained.

The rotation is arrested by turning the handle 100 so that the cam 98may force the gear 93- against the brake material 101 through the actionof the lever 95. The finished clothes are removed, the tub depressed toits original position, and more clothes added, enough fresh liquid beingintroduced to compensate for that discharged While floating out thescum. The lowering of the shaft 26 automatically disengages it from thetub and engages it with the rack 87.

It will be understood that although the various parts and features ofthis machine have been designed with reference to the most successfulinteraction it is possible to modify or substitute many of those partsand features without serious impairment of the device so that I do notlimit myself in any wise to the things illustrated or described, exceptas the same are specifically recited in my several claims which I desiremay be construed each independently of limitations contained in otherclaims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination,a casing adapted to hold washing liquid, a clothes container locatedinside said casing and conforming to a surface of revolution about avertical axis, the side wall of said container having liquid dischargeapertures, a clothes agitating element located inside said container,means working through the bottom of said casing and container forproducing a to-andfro movement of said washing element independently ofany movement of said container and also for rotating said container todischarge liquid through said wall apertures, means for raising saidcontainer to an extracting position and for lowering said container to awashing position, and an annular trough surrounding said containerinside said casing and located below said wall apertures during therotation of said container so as-to receive the liquid expelledtherefrom during such rotation.

2. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination,a casing adapted to hold washing liquid, a container located inside saidcasing and having its side and bottom walls conforming to a surface ofrevolution about a vertical axis, the lower portion of said side wallsbeing slanted outwardly and upwardly and substantially devoid ofperforations, the upper portion of said side walls being perforatedabove said slanting portion, a clothes agitating element located insidesaid container, means working through the bottom of said casing andcontainer for producing a reciprocating movement of sai-d element andalso for rotat-I ing said container to discharge liquid through saidwall apertures, means for raising sai container to an extractingposition and for lowering said container to a washing position, and anannular trough surrounding said container inside said casing to receivethe liquid expelled therefrom during the rotation thereof, said troughbeing located at a lower level than that defined by the lowermost ofsaid wall apertures during the extracting operation.

3. In a laundry machine, a combined clothes container and centrifugehaving substantially the shape of a very oblate spheroid mounted withits axis vertical and having water discharge apertures formed in itsequatorial zone and an opening through its upper polar zone, incombination with a washing element located inside said clothes containerand movable independently thereof.

4. In a clothes washing machine, a casing, a circular container forclothing therein having a perforated wall for the circulation of liquid,an oscillatable dasher mounted in said container on a vertical axis, andmeans for oscillating said dasher about said axis, said dasher havingradial blades and having at its lower end an outwardly flaring circulardisk, said disk underlying the clothing and overlapping the containerbottom.

In a laundry machine, a casing, a circular tub therein, anV oscillatabledasher mounted on a vertical' axis 'inside said tub and having at itslower end a circular disk .JZ-fclose to the t-ub bottom, and nieans forselectively oscillating said dasher 'and spinning said tub, the lateralwall of said tub having tical-bearing in perforations and foratedoutside of the bottom wall being persaid disk.

6. In a laundry machine, a casing, a verits bottom, a shaft rotatablyand slidably mounted in said bearing, a congears thereon, a rack tainerin said casing, a washing element in said container operativelyconnected to said shaft, means for raising and lowering said shaft,means for securing said container to said shaft to rise and rotatetherewith, said container when elevated being located above the liquidcontents of the casing, a pinion carried by said shaft and mechanismbeneath said casing for driving said pinion, said mechanism including aconstantly rotating gear engaged by said pinion at its uppermostposition and a constantly reciprocating rack engaged by said pinion atits lowermost position.

7. In a laundry machine, a casing, a vertical bearing in its bottom, ashaft rotatably and slidably mounted in said bearing, a container insaid casing, a washing element in said container operatively connectedto said shaft, means for raising and lowering said shaft, means forsecuring said container to said shaft torise and rotate therewith andfor disengaging said container from said shaft at its lowest position,said container when elevated being located above the liquid contents ofthe casing, a horizontal drive shaft beneath said casing having twospiral gearr oscillatably mounted below said drive shaft, drivingconnections for said rack gear including one of said spiral gears, and aspiral pinion on said first shaft adapted at opposite limits of its'vertical movement to mesh with said other the lower part of side ofsaid agitator, and drainage provisions in said trough, said troughhaving its inner wall slanting downwardly and outwardly outside of themargin of said agitator.

9. In a laundry machine a tub, a vertical shaft projecting through thetub bottom, an agitator carried by said shaft and having at its lowerend a circular disk which overlies the tub bottom, said tub bottom beingslanted downwardly and outwardly outside of said disk to define anannular trough, and drainage provisions at the lowest point of saidtrough.

10. In a combined clothes washing and extractng machine, a sheet metalcontainer having a region of maximum diameter intermediate the top andbottom thereof, said region having water discharge perforations therein,a casing surrounding said container, said casing conforming closely tothe shape of the portion of said container below the largest part ofsaid container, means for supporting said container at different heightsin said casin 11.` A washing machine comprising: a casing for Washingliquid, a perforated tub in said washing li disposed clear of said liand an oscillatable dasher in said tub ing a base adjacent to the bottomthereof and underlying the articles immersed in said liquid and forrotating said b when disposed above the liquid.

12. A washing machine comprising: a casing, a tub and an agitatingdevice in said for effecting oscillating movements of said agitatingdevice about t e axis of said tub and for rotating said tub; and anannular trough adapted to catch liquid discharged centrifugally fromsaid tub.

washing machine comprising: a casing, a tub in said casin and anoscillatable dasher in said tub, said tub and d of said dasher about theaxis of said tub when in its lowered position and for rotating tub whenin its elevated position; and an annular trough adapted to catch liquiddischarged from said tub during such rotation.

14. In a combined clothes washing machine and extractor, a containerhaving approxi-l mately the form of the equatorial zone of a' respect tosaid casing; means highly oblate spheroid and formed with liquiddischarge apertures at its region of greatest diameter, the side wallbeing substantial-A ly imperforate elsewhere.

15,. In a laundry machine, a casing, a clothes container in said casing,a washing element located in'said container and mounted for oscillationabout a vertical axis, means for raising and lowering said container andwashing element, said container when lowered being immersed in theliquid contents of said casing and when elevated being located above theliquid contents of the casing, a rotating member and an oscillatingmeinber located beneath said casing, and means operative upon theelevation of said container for automatically connecting said rotatingmember thereto in operating .relation and automatically disconnectingsaid oscillating member from said washing element, said means alsooperative upon the lowering of said container connect said oscillatingmember automatically said washing element and to disconnect saidcontainer automatically from said rotating element.

16. In a laundry machine in combination, a casing, a clothes containerin said casing, an agitator located in said container and mounted foroscillation about a vertical ams. means for raising and lowering s aidcontainer and agitator relatively to said ca singso as to locate thesame above the washing liquid and immerse the same such washing liquidrespectively, oscillating mechamsm and rotating mechanism located belowsaid casing, means operative solel when said container and agitatoroccupy t e ir lowered position for connecting said oscillating mechanismto said agitator and for disconnecting said rotating mechanism from saidcoiitamerE and means operative upon the elevation o said container andagitator for connecting said rotating mechanism to said container anddisconnecting said oscillating mechanism from said agitator.

17. In a laundry machine, in combination, a casing, a container locatedinside said casing, an agitator located inside said container andmounted therein for oscillation about a vertical axis, a lever pivotedoutside s aid casing upon a horizontal axis, connections be-` tween saidlever and container for raising and lowering said container inside saidcasing, oscillating mechanism and rotating mechanism located below saidcasing, means operative when said container is lowered for automaticallyconnecting said oscillating mechanism to said agitator, said meansserving upon the elevation of said container to disconnect said agitatorfrom such oscillating mechanism, and means operative upon the elevationof said container for connecting such rotating mechanism thereto, saidmeans also serving to disconnect said container from said rotatingmechanism when lowered. i

18. In a laundry machine, a casing for the reception of detergentliquid, a hollow :verti-v cal sleeve carried by the casing bottom andrising above liquid level, a second vertical sleeve surrounding saidfirst sleeve and movable relatively thereto, a container for articles tobe washed secured to. said second sleeve coaxial therewith and havingits wall formed to discharge liquid centrifugally upon rapid rotation, athird vertical sleeve surrounding said second sleeve and movablerelatively thereto, dasher blades carried by said third sleeve, arotating member and an oscillating member located below said casing,shaft means working through said first sleeve, means located beneathsaid casin and working in cooperation with said sha t-means for raisingand lowering said second and third.

sleeves, and means operative upon elevation of said second and thirdsleeves to disconnect said third sleeve from said oscillating member andto connect said second sleeve in operated relation to said rotatingmember, said means also operative upon lowering of said second and thirdsleeves to disconnect said second sleeve from said rotating member andto connect said third sleeve in operated relation to said oscillatinmember.

19. In a clothes was ing machine, a casing, a container for clothinglocated inside said casing and defining with the casing wall a narrowannular liquid space, said container being everywhere circular inhorizontal section and its side wall bein outwardly rounded invertical-section ad]acent to its upper and lower margins, in combinationwith an ocillatable dasher mounted inside said container on a verticalaxis and having at its lower end a circular Haring disk which projectsclose to the bottom of said container, said dasher also having bladesprojecting from said disk, and said side wall having apertures adjacentto its portion of greatest diameter, there being an imperforate regionbetween said perforations and the top rim of said container.

20. In a combination washing machine and extractor, a casing having anupright sleeve, an extractor Ahaving an upright sleeve adapted toloosely surround said first sleeve, a washing element having a sleeveloosely surrounding said second sleeve, a shaft in said first sleevehaving said Washing element secured thereto, means for moving said shaftvertically, means for connecting said shaft to said second sleeve at oneheight and for disconnecting it therefrom at a different height, andmeans for imparting to said shaft a diierent type of motion at differentheights.

21. In a combined washing machine and extractor, a casing having anupright sleeve. an extractor in said casing havin a central sleeveloosely surrounding said rst sleeve,

the top of said first `toothed,`a vertical shaft in said teeth of saidcollar and also having adjacent by said horizontal shaft, a plnionmeshing,

thereto a reduced neck adapted to pass freely through said collar, meansfor raising and lowering said shaft and thereby engaging and disengagingsaid shaft relative to said centra] sleeve, and driving mechanismadapted to rotate said shaft when` the same is located at the heightwhich causes said tinted portion to engage the teeth in said collar.

22. In a combined washing machine and extractor, a casing having anupright sleeve, an extractor in said casing havin a central sleeveloosely surrounding said rst sleeve, said second sleeve having a collaroverlappin the top of said lirst sleeve and toothed, a washing device insaid device interlorly 23. In a combined washing machine and extractor,in combination, a casmg, a container in said casinga washing device insaid container, a vertical shaft'rotatably and slidably mounted in thebottom of said vcasin having said washing device secured thereto, aspiral pinion fixed on said shaft below said container and rotatabletherewith, means for raising and lowering said shaft and pinion, ahorizontal shaft having two spiral gears thereon, a pinion meshing withone of said gears, a rack operatively last. pinionl and adapted toengage said first pinion in one position of the latter, the secbeinglocated so as 1 to engage said first inion -at another position ond ofsaid spiral gears of the latter, said rst pinion and rack also havingspiral teeth, and means for connecting said shaft to said container indriving lrelation at the elevation corresponding to the engagement ofsaid pinion with said second gear and disconnecting'it from saidcontainer at the elevation corresponding to its engagement 4with saidrack.

24. In a combined washing machine and extractor, in combination, acasing, a vertical shaft journaled in said casing adapted to operate awashing and extracting mechanism, a pinion carried by said shaft casing,means compelling said shaft and p inion to rotate together at all timeswhile permitting vertical movement of said pinion along the axis of saidshaft, a horizontal shaft beneath said casing, two spiral gears carriedsaid conl .said

`nected to said shaft and g to and disconnecting it from .said containerconnected to said f vment locatedin the beneath said,

with one of said gears, a rack operatively connected to said last pinionand movable transversely of saidiirst shaft, and means 'for raising and.lowering said first pinion, said first pinion meshing with said rack atposition of its second of said of its elevation,

from, a clothes container inside said casing g andalso having a hollowvertical sleeve carcent to the bottom thereof and having vanes extendingupwardly therefromithe side of container having perfogns for the passageof liquid, alrotata le power shaft belowsaid casing, two sets ofmovement-converting mechanism operatively conboth rotational ,movementand' oscillating respectively,

and means at the upper end of said Asecond sleeve for connecting saidyshaft impart backand forth motion thereto. 26. In a combined washingmachine and extractor, a' casing, a hollow vertical sleeve d v containeradapted to have clothes washed and extracted therein,

a washing elebottom part of said conand having vanes extending upwardlytherefrom, a rotatable powershaft below said casing, two sets ofmovement-converting mechanism operatively connected to ,saidv shaft andadapted to produce both rotational movementand oscillating movement, avertically movableshaft inside said first sleeve for transmitting suchmovement to said container and washing element respectively,

means for connecting said shaft to said washing element in operatingrelation, and interfitting provisions carried lby the upper end of saidshaftand by the' upper end of said second sleeve, whereby said shaft isconnected to said container when 4said shaft stands at one elev'ationand is disconnected from said said first pinvertical sleeve l' one 0 lythrough said collar,

container when said shaft stands at a second elevation.

27. In a combined clothes washing machine and extractor, a casing havingan up right sleeve, an extractor in said casing having a central sleeveloosely surrounding said first sleeve, said second sleeve having acollar overlapping the top of said first sleeve and interiorly toothed,first sleeve having a fluted portion adapted to fit the teeth in saidcollar and also having adjacent thereto a reduced neck adapted to passfreely through said collar, means for shifting said extractor and shaftvertically one relatively to the other to cause said fluted portion tobe engaged with and disengaged from said collar, and driving mechanismadapted to operate said shaft.

28. In a combined clothes washing machine and extractor, a casing havingan upright sleeve, washing means and extracting means in said casing,said extracting means having a central sleeve loosely sleeve, saidsecond sleeve having a collar overlappingv the top of said first sleeveand being interiorly toothed, vertical shaftmeans projecting throughsaid first sleeve and having two vertically spaced fluted portionshaving teeth complementa to the teeth of said collar, one of the fluteportions of said shaft-means being selectively engageable therewith andthe other of the uted rtions of said shaft-means being provided fordrivin engagement Ywith said washing means, an also having between saidfiuted portions a reduced neck adapted to pass freesaid neck having alength greater than they height of the-toothed portion of said collar,said collar and shaftmeans bein vertically movable one relatively to theot er to engage and disengage said shaft means and central sleeve, anddriving mechanism operatively connected to said shaft-means to producerotative movement and oscillating movement thereof.

29. In a laundry machine, a casing, an upright sleeve therein, a tub insaidcasin having a verticalsleeve surrounding sai first sleeve, a dasherin said tub having a verticaly sleeve surrounding said second sleeve, avertical shaft slidably and rotatably mounted in said first sleeve, theupper end of said shaft havin two engagingportions, one for said seconsleeve and one for said third sleeve, and said second and third sleevesbeing formed to cooperate therewith, and means for raising and gagingportions said second sleeve as to become disconnected upon lowering saidshaft and connected upon` raising said shaft.

30. n a laundry machine, a casing, an upright sleeve therein, a tub insaid casing having a vertical sleeve surrounding said first sleeve, adasher in 'said tub having a vertical a vertical shaft in saidvsurrounding said firstv lowering said shaft, the enthereof being sorelated to sleeve surrounding said second sleeve, a vertical shaftslidably and rotatably mounted in said first sleeve, the upper end ofsaid shaft having two engaging portions, and a reduced neck betweenthem, said second sleeve being constructed to engage with the lowerportion and said third sleeve being constructed to engage with the upperportion, means for raising and lowering said shaft, and mechanism forrotating said shaft when in elevated position and oscillating it when inlowered osition, the lower engaging portion being ormed when raised toenga e and elevate and drive said second sleeve an when lowered to lowerand disengage said second sleeve.

31. Iii a laundry machine, a casing having an upright sleeve,anextractor in said casing having a central sleeve loosely surroundinglsaid first sleeve, said second sleeve having interiorly projectingteeth located above the top of said first sleeve, a. vertical shaft insaid first sleeve having a luted portion adapted to fit said teeth andalso having adjacent. thereto a reduced neck adapted to pass freelythrough the aperture defined by said teeth, said shaft and extractorbeing vertically shiftable one relatively to the other to produceengagement and disengagement between said teeth and said fluted portion,means for operating said shaft, and means for maintaining said shaft andsaid extractor in their` relative selected positions of adjustment.

32. In a combined washing Amachine and extractor, a casing having an.upright sleeve, an extractor in said casing havin a central sleeveloosely surrounding said rst sleeve, said second'sleeve havinginte'riorly projecting teeth located above the top of said first sleeve,a Washing device in said container, said device having an interiorlytoothed socket located above said first teeth, a vertical shaft in saidfirst sleeve having a fluted head adapted to fit said socket and alsohaving a neck adapted to project loosely through the aperture defined bysaid teeth, said shaft and extractor being vertically shiftable onerelatively to the other to produce engagement and disengagement betweensaid teeth and fiuted head, means for maintaining said shaft andextractor in their relative selected posi` tion of adjustment, a motor,and mechanism for connecting said motor to said shaft in oscillatingrelation' and in rotating relation selectively.

33. In a combined washing machine and extractor, a casing having anupright bearing, vertical shaft-means journaled in said bearing andhaving vertically spaced f'luted portions, washin .means and extractingmeans in said casing, said extracting means having a central sleevecoaxial with said bearin and formed with interiorly rojecting teethadapted toA interfit with said uted portions selectively, .saidshaft-means and ex- 'trac'ting means being vertically shiftable, onerelatively to the other, to produce en"- gagement and disengagementbetween said teeth and one of the fluted portions of said shaft-means,the other of the iluted portions of said shaft-means being provided fordriving engagement with said washing means, means for maintaining saidextractor and shaft-means in their relative selected positions ofadjustment, and means for imparting oscillating and rotating movementsto said uted portions.

34. In a clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, acasing for holding the washin liquid, a clothes container therein, meansor raising and lowering said container so as either to immerge itscontents in said washing liquid, or to elevate the same above the levelot the liquid, an agitator in said container blades extending therefrom,means working through the bottom of said container and casing foroscillating said agitator independently of said container when saidcontainer is lowered, and means for rotating said container in itsraised position.

35. In a clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, acasing for holding the washing liquid, a clothes container therein,means for raising and lowering said container in said casing so aseither to-raise it above said washing liquid, or to immerge its contentsin said liquid, an agitator located in said container having a plateportion with liquid agitating blades traversing the face of the plateand projecting therefrom and ymounted for angular oscillation about avertical axis relative thereto, means for oscillating said agitator toeffect 'the washing operation, and means operative when said containeris in its elevated position for rotating said container about itsvertical axis.

36. In a clothes washing and extracting machine, in combination, acasing for holding a detergent liquid, a clothes container in saidcasing adapted to be positioned adjacent to the bottom of the casing andin the liquid during the time the washing operation takes place, liquidcirculating vanes located adjacent to the bottom central portion of saidcontainer and projecting upwardly therefrom, means for oscillating saidvanes about atvertical axis and means for rotating said container to'discharge its liquid contents.

37. In a combined clothes Washing machine and extractor, in combination,an agitator oscillatable about a vertical axis to effect the washingoperation, a centrifuge container rotatable about a vertical axis toextract adherent liquid from the clothing, driving means for saidagitator and container comprising a source of power, a pair of axiallyaligned spiral having a hub with gears driven by said source of power,the axes of said gears bein substantially at right angles to the axis osaid agitator and container, a continuously driven worm gear meshin withone of said spiral gears, motion trans ating means for connecting saidworm gear to said agitator to eect its oscillation, a second worm gearmeshing with the other of said spiral ears and coaxial with saidcontainer an operatively connected thereto, and a friction clutch havinga part fixed to rotate with said source of power and said first wormgear and having another part movable along the spiral gears forconnecting and disconnecting said second spiral gear to and from saidsource of power.

38. In a laundry machine, a casing, an upright sleeve therein, acontainer in said casing having a vertical sleeve movably surroundingsaid first sleeve, a dasher in said container having a vertical sleevemovably surrounding said second sleeve and also having blades located inposition -to be immersed in the liquid contentsl of said container,operating mechanism located beneath said casing, said mechanismcomprising an oscillating elementvand a rotating element, and avertically movable shaft working in said rst Vto said second sleeve andfor connecting said oscillating element to said third sleeve.

39. In a laundry machine, an upright casing having an unobstructed topopening, an vupright sleeve rising from the bottom of said casing, anupright, open-topped container in said casing having a vertical sleevemovably surrounding said first sleeve and coaxial therewith, a dasher insaid container having a vertical sleeve movably, surrounding said secondsleeve and also having'liquid-agitating blades, vertical shaft-meansjournaled inside said iirst sleeve for supporting and operating saidsecond and third sleeves, driving mechanism located beneath said casing,and mechanism including said shaft-means for connecting said drivingmechanism in operative relation to said second and third sleevesselectively.

40. In a laundry machine, a casing, an upright stationary hollow sleevelocated therein and having its lower end secured to the casing-bottom inleak-tight relation, a vertical shaft movably mounted inside said"sleeve, means located beneath said casing for operating said shaft, twohollow sleeves located inside said lcasing one outside the other andboth surrounding and coaxial with said first sleeve, means for securingthe uppervends of said two last-named sleeves to said shaft above saidfirst sleeve, agitator blades carried by one of said last mentionedsleeves, and a container carried by the other of said last mentionedsleeves.

4l. In a combined clothes-washing extracting machine, a casing,

and a vertical sleeve axis of said inde endentl in the bottom thereof, avertical shaft in said sleeve, a clothes-container concentric with saidshaft inside said. casing and movable verticall to and between-positionsin and'out of liqui contact, a washing-element in said containeroperatively connected to said shaft, a driving-element located belowsaid casing, two selectively operable driving connections between saiddriving element and shaft, one of said connections servin to rotate saidshaft continuously in one irection and the other serving to rotate saidshaft first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, saidwashing-element being of a type to be actuated by such oscillation,means for detachably connecting said shaft to said container whereby thesame may be elevated and rotated, means independent of said shaft forsupporting said container during the washing operation, a lever adaptedand arranged for raising and lowering said shaft, and means operativeupon determined changes in position of said lever to connect saiddriving element to said shaft through one or the other of said drivingconnections.

42. In a combined clothes-washing tracting machine, a casing, a verticalsleeve in the bottom thereof, a vertical shaft in said sleeve, aclothes-container concentric with said shaft inside said casing andmovable verticall to and between positions in and out of the liquid, awashing-element' in said container operatively connected to said shaft,means for detachably connecting said container to said shaft whereby thecontainer may be raised and rotated for extracting adherent .liquid fromits fabric contents, means independent of said shaft for supporting saidcontainer during the washing operation, a

edal for raisin and lowering said shaft, a

riving-elementocated beneath said casing, two selectively operabledriving-connections between said driving-element and shaft, one of saidconnections serving to rotate and the other to oscillate said shaftangularly, said washing-element being of a type to be actuated by suchoscillation, and means operatively connected with said pedal forautomatically connecting said driving-element and shaft through one orthe other of said connections according to the position of said pedal.

43. In a washing machine, a casing, a vertical bearing sleeve therein, aclothes-contain- 55 er inside said casing adapted to rest upon astationary part of said casin during the washing operation, a washing-eement in said container having blades adapted to produce liquid movementwhen oscillated angularly, 60 a shaft projecting through said sleeve,driving-connections between said shaft and washing element, means forconnecting said shaft to said container, a lever located for actuationby the operator, operative connections from 65 said lever to said shaftfor elevating said and exshaft to lift said container out of contactwith the wash ing liquid, a driving-element, means operative when saidlever is in one position for connecting said driving-element to saidshaft in a manner to produce angular oscillation thereof relative tosaid container, and means operative when said lever is in anotherposition for connecting said driving-element to said shaft in a mannerto rotate the same continuously in one direction.l

44. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, a casing, acontainer therein, a vertical shaft traversin the bottom of both said`casing and container, a drivingelement below said casing, operativeconnections between said driving-element and said shaft adapted toimpart to said shaft either a motion of angular oscillation or a motionof continuous rotation, a washing element having a base portionoverlying the bottom of said container and connected to said shaft,means for securing said shaft detachably to said container in rotatingrelation in addition to said washing element, said washin element havingliquid agitating blades, an means for supportin the container close tovthe bottom of th-e casing during the washing operation.

45. In a combined washing machine and centrifuge, in combination, anupright liquid-containing casing, an upright container,

means for supporting sald container inside said casing and close tothecasing bottom,

said container having an apertured side wall defining a surface `ofrevolution about its axis, a washing element located inside saidcontainer and having liquid agitating blades extending upwardly from thebottom thereof and adapted to set up currents of liquid upon oscillationof said washing-element about a vertical axis, an electric motor, twotrains of gearing, one train including oscillating elements and theother train including rotating elements, and means for connecting saidoscillating element to said washing-element in operating relation andfor connecting said rotating elements to said container in rotatingrelation, said means including a manually operable element outside'ofsaid casing andl also including a selectively positioned art wherebysimultaneous connection of sai .oscillating and rotating elements isrendered impossible.

46. In a combined clothes-washing and extracting machine, a casing, avertical shaft therein, an upright container located therein and havingliquid circulation apertures formed at a plurality of differentelevations in its side wall, said side Wall defining a surface ofrevolution about said shaft, means including an electric motor foroscillating said shaft angularly about its axis, a washing elementlocated inside said container and comprising liquid agitating bladesextending upwardly from the bottom thereof, operative connectionsbetween said shaft and washing element, means for connectin said shaftto said container, means inclu ing the same motor for thereafterrotating said shaft and container, said means` being interdependent andexclusive each of the other and said container being located close tothe bottom of said casing during the operation of said oscillatingmeans.

47. In a combined clothes washing and extracting machine, a casing, acontainer inside said casing and having side walls which define asurface of revolution about a vertical axis, said casing and containerhaving registering openings at their upper ends and the wall of saidcontainer being formed to allow the centrifugal expulsion of its liquidcontents upon the rapid rotation of said container about its axis, awashing-element mounted on a vertical axis inside said container andmovable relative to said container, said washing-element having bladesextending upwardly and outwardly therefrom and adapted to produce liquidcurrents when said washing element is oscillated angularly about itsaxis, an electric motor, means for supporting said motor relative tosaid casing, gearing including oscillating devices for connecting saidmotor to said washing element in operating relation, gearing includingrotating devices for connecting said motor to said container in rotatingrelation, means for effecting the attachment of said gearing selectivelyto said washing-element and container and preventing the attachment ofsaid gearing simultaneously to said washing-element and container, andmeans for supporting said container in close Iproximity to the bottom ofsaid casing during the connection of said motor to said washing-element.

48. In a clothes washin and extracting machlne, a casing, a forammouswalled container inside said casing, a washing element inside saidcontainer, reciprocating mechanism for said element and rotatingmechanism for said container located below, said casing and workingthrough Athe bottom thereof, a pedal pivoted on a horizontal axisbeneath said casing and means controlled by said pedal and operativewhen said pedal stands at one limit of its movement for causing theactuation of said reciprocatin mechanism, and operative when saidpedastands at the other limit of its movement for causing the actuationof said rotating mechanism, means connecting said washing element tosaid reciprocating mechanism for producin a washing operation,

container' to said rotating mechanism for producing an extractingoperation, means for supporting said container close to the bottom ofsaid casing during the connection of said reciprocating mechanism tosaid was g element, means connecting said pedal to said containerwhereby said container is elevated above liquid level by the movement ofsaid pedal to effect connection of said rotating mechanism to saidcontainer. and means for releasably securing said pedal in itslast-named position. y

49. In a combined washing and extracting machine, a container for thearticles to be washe means for washing the articles therein and also forrotating said container at extracting speed, a sheet metal casingsurrounding said container and arranged to catch the liquid expelledtherefrom, and a metal shield surrounding the li uid-contacting part ofsaid casing and 'de ning therewith an annular air-chamber, and servingto protect the casing both against blows and against heat-loss.

50. In a laundry machine, a casinghaving a circular bottom formed withan upwardly rounded side wall and an outwardly displaced annular portionin the upper part thereof, and a circular side wall member spaced fromand surrounding said rounded portion and in contact with said annularportion, said side wall member extending upwardly above said annularportion.

. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JAMES B. KIRBY.

CERTIFICATE or comemos A man No. 1,911,903. May so, 1933.

JAMES B. KIRBY.

-It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3,line 75, for "l5" read "ll5"; page 5, line l0, claim 4, after "disk"insert the words "coaxiahwith said vertical axis"; and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that thesame may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and 'sealed this 22nd day of August. A. D. 1933.

MLMoore- (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patente.

